════ ⋆★⋆ ════

Sona wanted to smack some sense into herself as she looked in the mirror. Had she been serious when she said yes to the 'marriage proposal'? No. Was she regretting saying her 'yes' already? Yes. Because now she was all dressed up, waiting for Abhay to pick her up for a 'date'.

She groaned as she gazed at herself in the mirror. Was the eyeshadow too much? Her liner too long? Her lipstick too bold? Was her clothes too flashy? Was simple jeans and crop top considered flashy? When it came to Abhay, she had to rethink everything and anything.

"Is this what you are wearing?" her mother strolled in with a disapproving look. "And why is your face so bare? While going to office you go full chamak-damak but not on a date?"

"Mom!" she touched her foundation covered face. Her face looked bare? What was her mother saying? "We are just going to the park, it can't be considered a date!"

Her mother ignored her completely as she dug inside her cupboard filled with clothes. Instantly she started yelling at her for keeping everything so untidy, Sona pursed her lips and didn't retort back. Was there a gain anyway? Why did her mom still treat her like she was a kid? That was the reason she still acted childish at times.

Like stomping Abhay's feet.

She blushed in embarrassment just as she thought about yesterday. She had acted so. . . . immature, totally like her teenage and kid self when she fought with Abhay. She would try to punch him or kick him whenever he irritated her. She held her head, what was wrong with her?

"Wear this!" her mother flung a floral piece of clothing towards her. Sona held it up to see it was a long frock with bell sleeves. Totally flashy! She wasn't going on a trip to a garden filled with roses and flowers to get in the feels of being in a fantasy world. She was just going to the park that was literally in front of their house, the one where they played as kids. The only thing that changed was that it was revamped.

"You should at least look interested!" she chided.

Look interested. So she just had to play the part by looking interested. Maybe she should tell Abhay that she didn't want to marry him, honestly she didn't see herself getting married to him at all. Not after he broke her heart.

Her mother ushered her into the dress and then she started doing her makeup again, Sona tried to protest but she failed miserably. She gave up soon, too. What was the point in saying anything if her mother had made up her mind already?

"Go, now," she also started kicking her out of her house. "Don't come back before 6, if you do I am not letting you in!"

"Mom stop being so unfair!" she whined when she should in front of the door. Her mother waved at her and shut the door in her face, much like she had done with Abhay. Was god punishing her yet again?

She rolled her eyes, and decided to go to the Singh's, he should be home, right? It was 4pm already and that was the time they had decided.

But when she went to his house he wasn't home at all! In fact the person she came face to face just as the door opened was Tarni.

"Hey," she said.

"Hi," Sona bit on her lower lip. She hadn't talked to her since she walked away from her room the day before yesterday.

"Sona," Tarni didn't look surprised to her here, "Abhay isn't home yet, come."

Sona felt so awkward being formal with her. She rubbed her forehead and pressed her lips together. "Why did you not tell me?"

Tarni sighed, opening the door wider as she stepped in. "Because you didn't tell me."

"I felt so embarrassed," she confessed, she was so flushed and uneasy with the Singh siblings. Especially when they found her biggest secret she kept from them. And she had intended to keep it from them forever. She wouldn't lie, she was embarrassed for the love she used to have for Abhay. It was embarrassing because he didn't reciprocate it back.

"I am sorry," Tarni rubbed her right arm, Sona could see the shiny diamond on her ring finger that stung her eyes. "I didn't want to embarrass you— just— Aksith and the whole marriage thing."

"Tarni, you tell me," Sona crossed her arms, speaking very patiently. "Is it sensible to get engagement to the guy you just met?"

"See! I know!" she waved her hands. "Engagement and shit, it's too fast, too soon. Even my mom was worried but—but, he is so nice, Sona!"

"Nice?" she scoffed. "Is that enough to conclude that he will be nice to you for your whole life? That he wouldn't always take his mother's side when you fight with her? If he would respect you in front of his family and in his house? If he is ready to know your unhealthy obsession with Boy Love?"

"Sona!" she gasped in offense, "We just met once!"

"Yes, exactly! You just met him once!"

"I know it was wrong!" she admitted with guilty eyes. "I should never go on a blind date and get engaged the next second! B—But Sona! It was so impulsive and we were just joking and in jokes itself he gave me the ring! And not just that, you don't understand how uncomfortable I feel around Aksith. Most of the time it's okay but the fact he still likes me makes me feel so weird and I thought if I got engaged he would try getting over me! Or he would get over me! You know how guilty it makes me feel knowing that someone might still like me every after years and the fact he doesn't date around either! It's like—"

"Okay, okay," Sona gestured her to clam down, Tarni was breathing hard as she patted her chest. "You aren't getting married in December."

"I am not!" she shook her head. "Heavens no! Maybe next December."

"I need to meet him."

"Of course! He needs to pass the Sona test."

🦋🦋🦋

Sona already didn't want to go on the 'date'. Abhay was a little late but she didn't care about that, what was bugging her was that they were walking to the park in complete silence. The silence was killing her, stabbing her gut and pulling it open.

She didn't know Abhay anymore. That was for sure. He seemed different today, more unfeeling. Even if they hadn't contacted each other often when he was in the US, Sona was sure that he wouldn't change so much. So much that she would label him a mystery.

Did she ever even knew him?

That thought made her mood more sour. Did she never know Abhay? Somehow that made her feel like she was miles away from him even if she walked by his side.

He was wearing formals again, something she was glad about because she wasn't the only one who was flashy. Though his jacket and tie were no where to be found, his simple white shirt and black trousers were flashy. At least on him they were.

"Umm. . . ." she tried to stir up a conversation. "The weather is quiet nice."

"It will not rain today," his response was crisp as he nodded in agreement.

Sona wanted to smack herself. Who talked about weather? It just made things awkward.

"Umm. . . " she mumbled again.

"We are here."

She blinked at her surroundings. Sure enough the place had completely changed, in fact it looked like nothing she remembered. It was greener, had more trees and grass, and all the playground equipment was replaced, they looked as new as ever.

She thought they would sit down on the newly painted bench but her butt hadn't even touched the metal when Abhay continued walking. She hurried after him, saying her thoughts aloud. "Where are we going?"

He didn't respond but walked forward. Sona had forgotten this place was actually quiet big but she never ventured deep as a kid. Her parents had told her there were monsters inside. In reality they didn't want her to get lost. Or see people kissing.

"I never came here before," she bite on her lower lip. She had glad she wasn't wearing heels, she wouldn't fall down and embarrass herself, or end up in Abhay's arms and embarrass herself. Nevertheless, her goal to not embarrass herself was working.

There were quiet some people around, mostly couples and that made her blush. Seeing other people kiss or hug each other made her feel she was watching something so private, her eyes didn't leave the ground.

"Come, Sona," her hand was pulled down and she tumbled on the picnic mat.

She blinked, when did he ever arrange this?

"My friend did it for me," he spoke.

"You have friends?" her mouth had its own mind.

His lips twitched, "Yes."

Sona slapped her hand on her lips, bending her legs sideways as she sat down more comfortability. Abhay pulled out a small bottle of mango juice and passed it to her from the picnic basket. Now that she thought about it, it did look like a date and not just a walk in the park.

"Thanks," she unscrewed the cap and took a small sip.

"You know why we are here," he nodded, his legs were stretching out of the mat underneath them as he dug the heel of his palms on the ground. He titled his head upwards at the cloudy sky, his dark hair being caressed by the wind.

"Yes," she lied, she really didn't know why they were here.

"You are not the first suitor my mom had asked me to go on a date with," she touched her chest at his words, was he trying to offend her? Did he know it would only give him another dig on his feet? She regretted not wearing heels.

"But I hope you would be the last," his eyes met hers and Sona' heart jumped in her chest. She took a huge sip of the juice again, her mouth was suddenly very dry.

"W-Why?" she managed to stutter.

"Sona," he titled his head slightly as he looked at her. His eye contact was too powerful that she had to look away. What were those emotions in his eyes? "We've known each other since forever, why not continue it for the rest of our lives?"

We've known each other since forever, why not continue it for the rest of our lives?

Was he? Was he proposing her with those words? She looked bewildered, it was clear in her lined eyes and her parted peach painted lips.

"W-What?"

"You were the one who said we shouldn't talk about the childish things," he said casually. "We wouldn't. I respect that. But is there really something wrong with us getting married? Our parents are setting this up and I don't see—"

"Wait! Wait!" she cut him off as she waved her hand. "Get married?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Why do you sound so shocked? Isn't that why you agreed to come on this date?"

So it was a date!

But that was not what she should be focusing on! She gritted her teeth at how nonchalant he was acting. She wanted to scratch his handsome face and maybe give him a punch or two. Get married? To him? To the person who rejected her before?

Did he think she was a use and throw object? Or was she a dustbin with the words 'Use Me' written on her? Did he not care how he broke her heart? How he completely broke the Sona she used to be? Was everything so simple for him? Simple to reject people, simple to start a business on his own and as simple as to get married?

"I am not marrying you," she said with finality. "I don't see myself marrying you."

"Why?" his tone was soft but very casually, "I think we are quiet compatible."

"Oh?" she clenched her fist. He knew he was making her angry but he wasn't stopping his behaviour. "How so?"

"You like to write," he said. "I own a publishing house."

Sona's heart skipped a beat, those words were sure romantic but not in this situation. "That's it?"

"Is there suppose to be something else?" he was egging her now.

She gulped down her rage. What did she think? He would compliment her and say all the things they were compatible in?

"Abhay Singh," she gritted her teeth. "I am going!"

She stood up but his words stopped her.

"Why are you go agitated, Sona?"

Why was she agitated? He had the audacity to ask her that? She turned around and leaped at him, her fist contacting his jaw. His eyes widened in surprise but his lips quirked up slowly. That only made her more mad, she clenched her fingers around his collar and jerked it back and forth.

"Who do you think you are, huh?" she yelled into his face. "Who the hell?"

She felt tears welling up in her eyes. Her heart was hurting. "H-How can you act so shamelessly? After breaking my heart?"

"So now you are willing to talk about it?" he asked. "I knew I had to change tactics with you."

Her mouth opened and closed, his face was so near but so blurred, "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you so much!"

"Sona," his callous fingers cupped her jaw. "Will you listen to me, Sona?"

"No," she cried as she shook her head, she hadn't even realised that she was practically sitting in his lap.

"Sona," he sighed. She wanted to wipe her tears away but her hands were frozen, just like her whole body. She couldn't believe she was crying in front of him now. Crying about how he broke her heart.

"I was not so drunk to not remember anything," he started. "I got your letter, I read it and by god that was the most beautiful thing I've ever read in my life. It is the most beautiful thing anyone has said to me, Sona."

She was still crying and shaking her head. His hand moved towards her back and he pulled her in, she nestled her face in the crock of his neck as she tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I remember our conversation also," he told her, his hand patting her back softly. "I remember crying that day, too. I remember you told me to write back if my answer was yes."

"Stop it," she cried. She didn't want to hear! She felt she was her 18 year old self again, crying for Abhay. Crying day in and night.

"I wrote back to you, Sona," he said, his tone a little sad. "I swear to god, I wrote back to you."

Her fingers clasping his collar loosened, she moved her face out of his skin, his cologne was still strong. "You didn't," she spoke as if she didn't believe him. "You didn't."

"I did," his eyes turned sad. "Maybe I should have checked in sooner. I didn't understand why you acted so different. Why you weren't happy when our parents talked about our marriage. B-But maybe I shouldn't have made you wait for long, Sona."

She didn't know what to say, she didn't know what to feel.

"I love you, Sona. I didn't realise it until you told me you loved me too."

how are you feeling after reading this chp?

a) very emotional

b) scared

c) laughing at yourself for being stupid???

d) praising me for being very smart???

e) both c and d but interchanged

f) all of the above

g) other

How do you feel??? Should Sona kiss Abhay or Aksith?? HAHAHA

Also hope you understood why Abhay acted that way. He just wanted to have a confrontation.